More friction. More storylines.
The Arizona Cardinals enter training camp with the highest expectations they’ve had under the current regime led by general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Before training camp at State Farm Stadium kicks off next week, we’re taking a closer look at the biggest storylines surrounding the team, beginning with the competition at right guard.
Is right guard Cardinals OG Isaiah Adams’ job to lose in 2025?
For the first time in years, (it appears) the Cardinals will have a new face starting at right guard come Week 1.
Known mauler and three-year starter Will Hernandez remains a free agent after going down with a torn ACL five games in last season.
It’s unclear why he remains unsigned. Maybe it’s his health. Maybe he’s waiting for the right situation.
Whatever it is, he’ll continue to be a free agent to watch as camps roll on across the NFL.
But unless the veteran is on the roster and cleared to play, right guard is second-year pro Isaiah Adams’ job to lose this training camp.
“I just take it one day at a time and continue to build trust among the guys, give (quarterback Kyler Murray) some confidence. Same with (running back James Conner), same with the whole offense,” Adams said when asked about his mentality of being the frontrunner for the job.
“I think it’s just kind of just trying to give them the feeling that Isaiah’s here and I can trust Isaiah. (Jonah Williams and Hjalte Froholdt), both those guys I want them to know that like they can count on me.”
From an offensive snap count standpoint, Adams’ Year 1 numbers don’t necessarily wow as he saw less than half of the available reps (47%) working as an interior depth piece.
The season totals don’t tell the full story.
With injuries piling up late in the year, Adams got his shot in the starting lineup. He saw no less than 65 offensive snaps across five starts to end the season. He did not miss a rep during that span.
Arizona’s run game didn’t miss a beat with Adams as a starter, either, with the offense posting at least 113 yards across that five-game span.
So even if his rookie season didn’t provide the type of success Adams saw in college, it certainly helped put things into perspective.
After not seeing the same kind of success he was used to as a rookie last year, there’s even more “fuel to the fire” for Cardinals OG Isaiah Adams in Year 2. pic.twitter.com/MoBPDaZ6yR
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) July 16, 2025
“It’s humbling but at the same time it just kind of motivated me to get bigger, stronger, faster and maybe switch up my approach and added way more fuel to the fire,” Adams said. “I’m excited to see how that turns out.”
Adams has the chance to lock down the right guard spot for years to come on a line that has plenty of continuity as it is.
Paris Johnson Jr. is locked in at left tackle, Brown and Froholdt return to their spots at left guard and center, respectively, while Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum will get their chances at securing right tackle. Same goes for Christian Jones.
Will Adams slam the door shut on the right guard conversation this camp? Only time will tell.
“I’m ready. I’ve prepared my whole life for this. I’m not going to get too high and just keep competing,” Adams said. “I think you never know what’s going to happen until you’re running out that tunnel Week 1. So for right now, there’s so much more work to do. It’s a long season and (I’m just) getting ready to play 17 games and more.”
Who’s in the mix at right guard?
Adams should be the starting right guard if everything plays out like it should.
That’s not to say there won’t be competition at the position.
Jon Gaines II, Royce Newman and Jake Curhan make up potential veteran candidates to dethrone the second-year pro.
Arizona’s lone offensive 2025 draft pick and interior lineman Hayden Conner rounds out the competition.